Rotary Run Charity Classic

We didn't do too bad, even though the cold mornings finally fell here in October.

We weren't close just for the picture, we were huddled until start time.

As Soon As It Started

Cross Country was over it seemed.

Elaine learned how to roll her eyes and keep pace.

 

Nick.  He told us he didn't like us cheering. We cheered anyway.  And we earned a glare for our encouragement.

 

Ben.  Not being one to roll his eyes at us or glare, we decided that he had a permanent prayer going during running with the way her ran hands laced all the time.

 

And they all made the District Finals!

Elaine was proud of herself for beating one of her friends this season.  It was her goal; she made it.

 

Ben said his goal was to never stop running.

Well done, he did it and did it well.

Nick.  The goof.  His goal was to be in the top 25 District wide.

He made the top 30.

Well son, if you set high goals for yourself, you have to work for them.  Walking during practice doesn't really train you well.  The best must train. 

 

At any rate, it was a season well run for all.

Off And Running

This is a pack of 6th and 7th grade kids of one gender or another, taking off at one of the recent cross-country meets.

One and a half miles for the pack to break into stride groups.

 

 

I'm there because I have 3 of 4 who wanted to run this year. 

There is Elaine sort of front of center there, arms swinging. 

 

Ben has an unusually tall friend who talked him into joining this year.  While they don't run together, Ben hangs in there.

 

The crazy tall girl there? Elaine is right behind.

They actually wound up racing each other to the end during this race.

 

And Nicholas.

Of three races so far, he has yet to come in less than number 27 out of the whole pack.

He is determined that he will win.

 

And after each race, there is a collapse.

 

Cold Friday Evenings

High Energy Activities

Way Back 2017: Our Gymnasium

And our basement becomes the gymnasium.

One More Showcase!

Alida on the Beam.

 

On the Floor.

 

Flipping on the Floor.

 

Vaulting over and onto things.

 

Strong and in the air.

 

And I'm told this was a perfect dismount. I will believe her.

She has come a long way in five months here.

Really, we're impressed and she is certainly near the top of her group.

Well done, girl.

 

 

One, Two, Three

Patric found this on Facebook the other day--a pretty good pic!

Frankenstein Fun Run

Where Nicholas took second place overall in the 5K!

 

And here he is with Third place finisher, daddy.

Well done, guys.

 

And then the whole Stuber clan crushed the one mile fun run. Nick, Elaine, and Ben taking first, second and third!

Entrance fees for a family of six--let's just say we could have had our names on the T-Shirts as corporate sponsors.

Some Assembly Required

While we assembled, we took a few breaks to consider just making it a chariot.

 

Dad stopped by for lunch, and we attempted to make him puzzle through it. 

Then he left about as quickly as he came....

 

Of course, there was a point during the afternoon we gave up too.

Then, we all puzzled together and learned how to play H-O-R-S-E.

 

Gymnastics

All four, every Thursday.

It did not take long for the balance beams and trampoline to win their hearts over Tuesday piano lessons.

Frankenstein One Mile Fun Run

Debatable whether running a mile can be considered fun.

 

But, it is when you earn second place after a great finish.  We talked about our tactics for the final eighth of a mile before he went out--sprint, knowing there is an end in site.

And that boy did it.  He stayed up with the leader a little behind the entire race.  Then right at the end burst forth. 

 

And in a bad mommy moment I cheered for him causing the leader, who thought he was in a comfortable lead, to look behind his shoulder.  They were neck-and-neck to the finish, but the leader hit the funnel to the finish line a step ahead of Nick.  He was gracious in his second place showing, and we started planning our next race--his request, a 5K for he and I to run together. 

 

Okay, but I don't think I can keep up with your 7 minute miles bud.

Soccer Mom

Even this mom, who can't tell out from in on the shin guards,

 

wondered a bit at the height of these kids on the other team.

Nicholas wove in and out of them like they were trees.

 

Ben sat out with me this time around.

Post-Halloween Soccer Game

 

I kept waiting for the text or e-mail last Saturday morning, calling off the games (the two hours of games) because it was 40 degrees outside

 

 

They didn't.

So we arrived in style.

Ben and Nicholas accepting the pants, hats, and long sleeve shirts that I took along anyway after they refused to wear them to the game.

 

And Alida had no such qualms about playing in her hat with leggings under her uniform--leggings with silver cats.  I love this girl.  She finally got out from being goalie.  At the end of the game she was so excited; then she told me she just wanted to be goalie again.

Pictures From Mommy Away Number 1

 

They made it to soccer, in their uniforms!  Well, I presume that the boys had on shin guards and shoes at some point.

 

Girls won 6-4!

Boys Tied 6-6

(Notice I did not put scores last week--we're getting better!)

Alida had too many blocks to count as a goalie, and Elaine made a goal!

Elaine Wasn't So On Board

With being the goalie. A fashionable girl has her limits.

Turns Out--Soccer Amuses me more than I dreamed it would

Nicholas quickly got in the fray.

Benjamin warmed up.

Elaine was the ringer--who knew she would take to it with such heart.

And Alida remained somewhat reserved.

Soccer Mom

I am not.
Daddy signed them up.
Daddy left town the day after Labor Day for four days, on eight hours notice.
Mom figured out where to get them, what they needed, and what time to arrive.
Mom did not figure out that the shin guards go inside of the socks...
Soccer Mommy Fail. But, they are so crazy cute and proud not knowing their faux paus. And I am constantly looking for other Pee Wee players that are similarly dressed, hoping that we're just setting a trend... We're not.

This Amuses Me

The minor league baseball team in Montgomery. 

The mascot is a big, healthy, athletic biscuit, with a tongue made of a pat of butter.

And yes, they haul around a pig before the games. 

And yes, they call him Gravy.

Welcome Trampoline Relief

In the form of grandpa. The best kind of relief.

A little swimming in there too

Wherein daddy got a little competative with the swim artwork.

Elaine stopped midway during her second race to announce to all onlookers that she didn't want to do it. And this ended the competitive part of her swim season.

Alida on the other hand, announced that she loved the races, hated the practice.

They make a complete swimmer when put together.

 And at the end of the season the girl in the second lane from the left there, with the great dive, took MVP for the five and under group. 

We missed the trophy presentation, but she was tickled when we made sure to pick it up on our way out of town going in some direction we were going.